Swapping 189 to 190? Also, 189 AND 457 together?

[Lynchoid]

Hi,

What a week! We were invited to apply for a 189 visa in July and on Tuesday we formally lodged our application!!! Happy days.

However, one day after we lodged and paid for the 189, Western Australia contacted us to enquire about our 190 visa application and told us they had problems accessing our EOI. I gather that's because the EOI is now suspended. We would have preferred to have gone down the SS route as it would have moved more quickly and it seems we now that we can't. Does anyone know if visas can be swapped (from 189 to 190) or is it too late as we have applied now? Very frustrating!

And then to top it all off, I was contacted by a company yesterday about positions in Oz and they may be interested in sorting out a 457 visa for us. They are aware of the 189 progressing but would possibly like to bring us out sooner. This is appealing to us, especially as we will have a job sorted for us in Oz and also a lot of moving expenses helped with. However, we wouldn't like to lose the permanent visa opportunity. Can we continue processing our 189 if we accept and are taken out to Oz with a 457?

All a little bit confusing and any advice would be welcome.

Lynchoid

[lebourvellec]

You cant swap applications once they are lodged. From the DIAC site it states that 189 are going to get a CO within 4 weeks of lodgement, which is same as 190. And also Skillselect applicants have priority ove applications lodged before 1 July.

Since only 90 invitations for the 189 has been sent out - I would say that once all your documents have been loaded up - you should receive a CO very quickly.

It took us 6 weeks to get our 176 visa from lodging to grant last year - and we did not frontload medicals or PCC.

If you want your application processed quickly - this would be a suggestion - to frontload Medicals and Police Checks.

Regarding the job - you could might get your application processed quicker if you say you have this job oppertunity, depending if your employer is already a business sponsor, if not it could take upto 4 weeks for the 457 to be approved and for the visa. You may still be offered the relocation package even if you have your own visas - we were still offered relocation package after we had our visas.

Its up to you but I would be tempted to wait out your 189 application, and consider frontloading medicals and PCC (ACRO), for your application to be processed faster.



http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...tion-times.htm

[Lynchoid]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice, we'll get the PCC and health checks started now then and get this thing moving. I agree that even with a 189, the company (huge Australian construction company) may well offer to help with the relocation. Once question however is whether we can do this and keep the 189 going at the same time as the company is trying to get the 457 for us? Can we have these visa applications running together?
Cheers
Lynchoid

[lebourvellec]

yes but if the 457 is granted after the 189 your PR will be void. As last visa granted will overide any previous visas. you are speaking about a few weeks if that difference, I would concentrate on 189 as I stated if your CO knows you have a job offer your visa could be granted quicker.